Labor Day Weekend Staycation: 5 Ways To Relax Like You’re Vacationing

August 18, 2014 9:00 AM

Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of the summer, which means it may be your last chance to get some relaxation in before the weather cools off, the kids are back in school and the busy holiday season is just around the corner. Use your Labor Day weekend to get in a lot of relaxation time and create your own special staycation without every leaving your home. With just a little bit of planning, maybe a few extra dollars for a little pampering and the support of your family, you can have a truly relaxing staycation over Labor Day weekend. Make sure to get your whole family involved and you’ll all have a wonderful and memorable time. Here are a few great ways to plan for your upcoming staycation.

Unplug

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The first step to having a truly relaxing staycation is to unplug from the world around you. It might be hard at first, but turn off the phone and unplug from Facebook, email and all those other technical things that suck the life out of you. If you are constantly “on-call,” then you will never have a chance to truly relax. Once you are fully unplugged from the world around you, you will be surprised at how much relaxing you can really get done. If it’s really important, they’ll leave a message. Also – guess what? If someone emails you, that email will still be there when your break is over. You don’t need to respond immediately. Set up an out-of-office alert and let everyone know that you’re unavailable for a few days. You’ll be glad you did.

Learn Something New

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Have you always wanted to learn ceramics? Or maybe you’ve thought a lot about taking a cooking class or a wine tasting course. It doesn’t matter what you’ve always wanted to try, this is your chance to actually do it. There are many inexpensive schools and courses offered for these types of things in every major city across the country. Use your new free time to learn that new skill, taste a few amazing bottles of wine, or perfect that fancy dessert. You’ll have a fantastic time learning something new, and you’ll get to mark a few checkboxes off that bucket list of yours.

Enjoy a Fancy Dinner

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This is the best time to save up for that five-star dinner you’ve always wanted. Do some research and find out what the very best in dining experiences are in your area. Read the reviews and find something very special. Make your reservations ahead of time, get dressed up in your very best date-night outfits, and make a romantic evening out of it. Sure, this is probably going to be one of the more expensive dinners you’ve had in a long time, but this is your time to relax and indulge a little. Treat yourself and enjoy the fact that you are on vacation, even if you never left town.

Backyard Movie Night

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It’s very easy to plan a backyard movie night for a fun and relaxing evening with the whole family. All you need is your computer, a projector and something to project on. You can pick up a basic projector that connects to your computer for a few hundred dollars, then you will have it ready for all the future backyard movie nights you’ll want to throw again and again. Your screen can be as simple as a large white sheet pulled tightly at each corner and secured with a few bungee cords. Or you can build a screen out of some plywood and a little white paint. Then set up a few comfy chairs, get the barbecue going, and hook up your computer for a fun movie night that the whole family will enjoy.

Spa Day

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What says vacation more than a relaxing stay at the spa? There are a couple of ways you can prepare for a great spa day. Why not splurge a little and book some time at a local spa for a massage, a facial and a few other pampering treatments? There are many wonderful spas in cities all over the country that specialize in helping you relax. Or, if you want to save a little money, why not create that spa environment at home? Get a few great scrubs and skin treatments at the store, steam a few towels, and talk your sweetie into giving you a massage when it’s all done. You can spend a few hundred dollars on a great spa experience or you can do it for a fraction of the cost at home. Both are wonderful ways to relax, and whichever spa experience you choose, you’ll fell relaxed, rejuvenated and totally refreshed.

Deborah Flomberg is a theater professional, freelance writer and Denver native. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.